Obama brought up the travel plans during a Jan. 28 call with Netanyahu, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said. “The start of the president’s second term and the formation of a new Israeli government offer the opportunity to reaffirm the deep and enduring bonds between the United States and Israel and to discuss the way forward on a broad range of issues of mutual concern, including Iran and Syria," Vietor said.

Obama will also visit the West Bank and Jordan to "continue his close work" with Palestinian Authority and Jordanian officials, White House press secretary Jay Carney added during his daily briefing.

The trip would be Obama's first to Israel since the summer of 2008, when he visited as the Democratic presidential candidate. Obama was criticized during the 2012 campaign for not traveling to Israel during his first term, but indicated that he hoped to visit in a second term. President George W. Bush visited Israel twice -- both times during the final year of his second term -- and President Bill Clinton visited four times, during his second, third, fourth and sixth years in the White House. Before Clinton, only Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter visited Israel during their presidencies.

Vietor said that more details about the trip, including the dates of travel, would be forthcoming, though Israel's Channel 10 is reporting that the trip will take place on March 20. The Israeli channel said Obama's visit would be part of a Middle East trip that will also include visits to Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.